Nature’s Design is a monthly blog feature with interior design advice on making your personal space naturally beautiful.
Fall is in the air and it’s time to get serious about work again! That being said, I think you need to ask yourself an important question: “Is my office making my worklife easier, inspiring me to give my best, OR is it dragging me down, am I fighting it everyday?”
You spend more the 2/3 of your waking hours at work. How your office looks and feels has a huge effect on your outlook, your energy level and your success!
So get real with yourself and put a little money or elbow grease into your office.
Real client before and after… a little work in the closets for extra storage, paint and a few new furniture pieces and Voila!
Get motivated and print out my Office Refresh tips below:
1) You have to get organized and minimize the paper chaos first. Go through your paper piles, one item at a time, and file things away while tracking your Next Actions and Projects through the Getting Things Done method (you don’t have to see your files to remember what to do, you just have to keep a clear working to do list). Piles Be Gone!!!
2) Next, clear everything in and off you desk, side tables, shelves and bulletin boards. Recycle and throw away old magazines, pens that don’t work, knick-knacks without significant meaning, and craigslist the extra printer you no longer use. It’s time to get rid of the clutter that’s weighing you down and start with fresh priorities and inspiration.
3) Dust, Sweep, Vacuum. Yahoo! Allergies from hidden dirt and dust piles be gone.
4) Water your plants, and if you don’t have any, get some! Plants are your indoor natural energy and oxygen cleaning resource. They create a vitality in your space and remind you that you are a living being, not a working drone.
5) How do you like the color on your walls and the furniture in your workspace? Are you in need of a style update? Color has a huge effect on your mood and your energy level! Picking the right color takes time, as well as choosing furniture you want to live with and supports your physical, ergonomic needs. Do your research to help make the right decisions the first time around. If you need support, hire a professional like me, we’re here to make your decision-making fun and easy!
Inspiration from houzz.com, a great online design resource.
6) Next, the finishing touches. Take a close look at your artwork, 2-D and 3-D, to see what still inspires you and what has become dead-weight — if you don’t have any art, consider this as a must have! (Art opens the heart, excites the senses and brings life to you and your space in a personal way). Move your artwork around, give it a new, refreshed home… if you love it. And if it no longer sparks a flame, it’s time to let it go (give it to someone who does love it or make a great donation).
7) Finally, set new intentions for your last quarter of 2010 and new goals for 2011, then place them in your space. Sit in your beautiful, “new” workspace, quiet and focused, and write down your business goals on a clean piece of stationary, with a brand new pen – no old energy allowed into your new, clear goals. Then place your intentions near pieces of art that visually inspire your goals. It always feels great to be clear with yourself and the Universe, and I’m amazed at how effective it is.
It will take some time to work through every step thoroughly. Be Patient, Get Support if you need it, and mark time in your calendar to focus on your workspace – if it’s not on your agenda, it likely won’t get done.
If you do every step, I guarantee you’ll see, feel and reap the rewards from the magic of your workspace transformation.
Nature’s Design is a monthly blog feature with interior design advice on making your personal space naturally beautiful.
Create a clear vision for your home, let nature’s inspiration lead the way.
You know how alive you feel when you’re out trekking amongst the trees? Lush greens greet your eyes, the smell of fresh air and pine, warm wood and rocks beneath your feet, water flowing at your destination.
I bet you have your favorite hikes or natural places, whether in the city or out of town. Have you asked yourself, “What makes these places feel so good?” Your answer to this question holds the key to your beautiful, inspired home.
If you’re happy with the way your home looks and feels, then move onto something more invigorating, please. If you’re looking for fun, inspiring homework that will change your space and have a super effect on your life, then keep reading.
Fun, Inspiring Homework:
1. Write down all the qualities you love about your favorite spots in nature and the natural elements that speak to you. If you like, take an excursion to your favorite natural spot with a friend and do the homework together.
2. Next, magazine-tearing time. Elle DeCor, Dwell, House Beautiful. After reading your list of nature-inspired qualities, look through 2-3 home décor magazines and pull out everything you LOVE. It doesn’t matter if it will “work” in your space as you see it. If you love it, tear it out!
3. Pretty fun so far, right?! Now it’s time to bring the pieces together. . Group like-type items together and notice the patterns of what you’ve pulled: colors, wood textures, furniture styles, lighting, etc. Review your list and see what elements are represented, i.e.: flowing water, lush greenery, open spaces, bright blue sky, cozy feeling. Anything missing? If so, see if you can find its physical representation in a second go ‘round of your mags.
4. Next it’s collage time. I call this the vision board for your home. Use a large piece of cardboard (at least 16 x 20). If you hate cutting and pasting, then make a beautiful binder to flip through, because looking at it regularly is what sparks action and fulfillment.
5. Collage notes: I cut out all my images first, cropping out the excess details. Then I lay out all my pictures, sometimes adding in a word or four that drive the message home (find these in your magazines or write them on paper with crayons or markers). I try different layouts until I LOVE it and it feels just right. Then glue down the layers —glue sticks work great. Everyone’s artistic process is unique, so use your own creative style to bring it to life. Make a mess, mishmash it all together – this is all about bringing who you really are and the beauty of nature into YOUR HOME, YOUR WAY.
6. When you’re done, it’s time to display your vision: hang it, frame it if you like, or put it somewhere private. The key is to look at it regularly. Let it seep into your subconscious and creative mind so you can ruminate on your heart’s desire for your home. As you get clear about the changes you want to make, you’ll notice furniture sales popping up with your perfect desk and friends urging you to let them help you paint. It’s like that. Life gives you what you want, once you’re clear, receptive and appreciative. It’s really quite magical.
Have FUN with it! I’d love to hear about your process and see your vision boards if you’re willing to share.
You can also look for Home Vision Board classes coming up this fall. Sign up for my mailing list at naturalbalance9.com/contact.htm if you’d like to be kept in the loop for upcoming events.
Nature’s Design is a monthly blog feature with interior design advice on making your personal space naturally beautiful.
I’m excited to share the many resources that turn me on as a green feng shui designer and hope you’ll get some inspiration out of them too!
Natural, Sustainable, Green. These are all terms we use to talk about materials that are kind to the earth and decrease our human footprint. In the “old” days, natural used to be synonymous for bland, boring, or just too crunchy granola. Thank god that’s not the case anymore… style-conscious, sustainable designers like me can now make stellar creative recommendations for any room in the home or office, and feel good about it.
Last year I discovered Revival Home & Garden on Capitol Hill while gallivanting around Seattle with my colleague and good friend Sara Eizen of Nest.
